The Shepherd’s Story (A Christmas Story)

This story takes place just outside the city of Rome in 52 AD, during the reign of Emperor Nero. At that time, Rome was deeply influenced by its many gods, whose dark powers were evident throughout the city. Temples and idols filled the landscape, and citizens offered sacrifices to gain blessings. The evil sorcery of Satan, believed to be behind these gods, permeated every corner of the city. Evil was woven into the fabric of daily life, openly celebrated in the streets.

To reject or speak against these gods, including Nero—who was regarded as the god of Rome—was to risk social isolation and suspicion. Those who dared challenge the status quo were often reported to the authorities as enemies of Rome.

In the midst of this darkness, a small group of shepherds stood apart. Known as followers of "The Way," they were devoted to their King, Jesus. In the village, they frequently spoke to the townsfolk and travelers about their faith and the path their King had shown them.

One evening, as the shepherds prepared their flock for the night, they were training a young boy named Adriel. Under a blanket of stars, one of the older shepherds, Mathias, turned to Adriel and asked, "Have we ever told you the story of the angels who appeared to the shepherds in the field?"

Adriel sat up eagerly, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Angels?" he asked excitedly. Mathias smiled and leaned back against a nearby rock, a knowing look on his face. "Yes, Adriel, angels. It’s the most important story I’ve ever been told."

"My grandfather, Micah, was the one who first told me this story," Mathias began. "He was there—he saw the angels with his own eyes. This is his account of how our King came to dwell among us. It happened nearly 50 years ago, when my grandfather lived in Bethlehem, a small town where he worked as a shepherd."

That evening started like any other. Micah and the other shepherds were settling the sheep for the night when, suddenly, an angel appeared before them. It was unlike anything my grandfather had ever witnessed. The angel was surrounded by an intense radiance, like a multitude of glowing stars with beams of light streaming outward. Later, many would call it the glory of the Lord, the God of Israel. My grandfather said it was one of the most awe-inspiring—and terrifying—moments of his life.

Adriel, unable to contain his excitement, interrupted, "What did the angel want?"

Mathias smiled, clearly pleased by Adriel's enthusiasm. "I’m glad you’re enjoying the story," he said. "I can still hear my grandfather’s voice as he recited the exact words the angel spoke to them. He never forgot that message—it was etched into his memory forever."

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Immediately after the angel delivered the message, an enormous multitude of angels appeared, with powerful voices full of praise, they began proclaiming:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Adriel raised his hand, signaling Mathias to pause. "Wait," he interjected, "why were the angels so excited about this news? Why is it so important?"

Mathias sat up straighter, his gaze toward Adriel intensified. "Adriel, you and I both know the kind of evil that thrives in that city. The people there worship the gods as if they’re controlled by them. They make sacrifices to gain blessings, but they harm others and mock our King, calling Him weak because He died."

Mathias paused, his voice turning somber. "But the evil in that city doesn’t stay there—it lives within our hearts, too."

Adriel frowned, confused. "What do you mean, it lives inside us?"

Mathias leaned forward, his voice steady. "The Law, given to us by the great prophet Moses, tells the story of rebellion. The first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived in a perfect garden with our God, Yahweh. But the great dragon, whom our King calls Satan, deceived Eve into disobeying God’s command.

When Adam followed Eve, both fell under a curse—the curse of spiritual death."

Mathias paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "From that moment, every human descended from Adam and Eve inherited this curse. The dragon’s goal was to corrupt the world and bring ruin to humanity. Even now, he works to enslave us, destroy us, and draw us away from the one true God."

"The entire world—not just that wicked city—is under the influence of Satan. He enslaves us through our sinful passions, driving us to hate one another and even to kill. But he doesn’t force us. He uses our own sinful desires to accomplish his will."

Adriel’s voice grew quiet. "Do I have that evil in me, Mathias?"

Mathias nodded solemnly. "Yes, Adriel, we all do. The Law teaches us to love God with all our hearts, but we don’t. We love ourselves instead, and break His commands. We are all guilty, and we all must face the punishment for disobeying God’s laws."

Before Adriel could respond, Mathias continued his tone lifting. "But this is why the angels rejoiced. They brought good news—news that would change everything. They celebrated because we would be set free from our guilt and disobedience. No longer would we live under the control of the great dragon. No longer would we be enemies of God. Instead, we would find peace with Him, all because of the child born in Bethlehem."

"Who was this child?" Adriel asked. "Did you say the angels called Him ‘Christ the Lord’?"

Mathias nodded. "Yes, Christ means Messiah—the promised one. My grandfather told me they had heard of prophecies written in the books of the Law. These prophecies spoke of a man who would sit on David’s throne, a King of the Jews. But more than that, this King would bring His people into a kingdom—a kingdom without crime, evil, or death. Everyone who believes in this King would live with Him forever, as part of His family."

"What was the King’s name?" Adriel asked eagerly.

"His name is Jesus," Mathias replied. "And He still lives today. Jesus grew to be a perfect man, never disobeying God’s law. He was the greatest man who ever lived. Every prophecy about His power came true—He healed the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, and even raised the dead. But the greatest prophecy of all was how He would defeat the great dragon and set us free from his kingdom."

"Jesus fought the great dragon?" Adriel asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes," Mathias replied, "but not in the way you might think. The greatest problem in the world is humanity’s sin.

Jesus lived a perfect life to take our place in death for our rebellion. He offered His life as a sacrifice to cleanse ours. About 20 years ago, Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross."

"Why would they do that if He was a good man?" Adriel asked, puzzled.

"That’s a great question," Mathias said. "The great dragon feared the prophecies about the Messiah. So, he deceived the Roman rulers into killing Jesus. But by doing so, the dragon unknowingly set the stage for our freedom."

Adriel interrupted quickly, "But I thought you said Jesus won the battle against Satan?"

"He did," Mathias affirmed. "But not in the way most people would expect.

When Jesus died on the cross, God placed all of our guilt on Him. What the dragon didn’t realize was that by having Jesus crucified, he was actually helping to set us free. Jesus' death broke the power of sin and freed us from the kingdom of darkness through His blood."

"The death of a perfect man in place of sinful humanity will set them free from their crimes. But it gets even better! After Jesus died, He was buried. Three days later, He rose from the dead—the first man in history to do so by His own power!"

Adriel’s jaw dropped. "That’s incredible!"

Mathias nodded, his voice filled with awe. "When Jesus rose from the grave, He truly defeated the dragon.

The dragon thought he could win by killing Jesus, but when Jesus came back to life, He proved that death could not hold Him. He showed that He is the most powerful God in the universe, and the dragon has no power over Him."

"And if the dragon has no power over Jesus, then we are free as well," Mathias continued. "We are kept by His power, protected by Him. Even more, the Spirit of God lives within those who believe in Jesus. We may still struggle with evil in this world, but we will never again be imprisoned by Satan or judged by the Law, because our King has brought us peace."

Adriel, with tears welling up in his eyes, Asked Mathias. "Can I have this peace? Can Jesus be my King?" he asked softly.

Mathias quickly knelt beside him, taking Adriel's hand in his, holding it tightly. "Adriel, do you believe this story I’ve told you? Do you believe that this King is the Lord, and that His death can save you? Do you want to live with Him?"

Adriel, his voice filled with relief, nodded and said, "Yes. I want so badly to be free from this evil and from the Dragon. What must I do?"

"Believe, my dear friend," Mathias replied. "Put your trust in the King as your Savior and your King, and you will have a place in His kingdom forever. Once you belong to the King by faith, you will always be His—a child of the King. Do you believe?"

Adriel, overwhelmed with joy, hugged Mathias tightly. "I do. I believe in King Jesus."

With tears streaming down his face from the joy in his heart, Adriel leaned back, looking at Mathias. "Can you tell me the rest of the story? Did Micah see the Messiah?"

Mathias chuckled warmly. "For sure, Adriel! They certainly did! Jesus had no earthly father; He was born of a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. The shepherds found Mary and Joseph and told them everything that had happened. They were all amazed!"

"Adriel," Mathias said, his voice softening, "this story is just the beginning. Our King spoke often of His kingdom, and how we who are waiting for His return must be prepared."

Night after night, as the sheep settled for the evening, Mathias continued to teach Adriel the ways of Jesus, preparing him to join in the work of the King.

And so, this is the story of the Shepherds.